OpenStreetMap represents physical features on the ground (e.g., roads or buildings) using tags attached to its basic data structures (its nodes, ways, and relations). Each tag describes a geographic attribute of the feature being shown by that specific node, way or relation.

OpenStreetMap's free tagging system allows the map to include an unlimited number of attributes describing each feature. The community agrees on certain key and value combinations for the most commonly used tags, which act as informal standards. However, users can create new tags to improve the style of the map or to support analyses that rely on previously unmapped attributes of the features. Short descriptions of tags that relate to particular topics or interests can be found using the feature pages.

Most features can be described using only a small number of tags, such as a path with a classification tag such as highway=path, and perhaps also a name using name=*. But, since this is a worldwide, inclusive map, there can be many different feature types in OpenStreetMap, almost all of them described by tags.

For details of more tags and proposed changes to existing tags see Proposed features and Deprecated features. If you do not find a suitable tag in this list then feel free to make something suitable up as long as the tag values will be verifiable. Over time, you may find that the tag name is changed to fit with some wider consensus, however many good tags were used first and documented later. Information about OSM tags is available as a machine-readable semantic network.

Primary features

Aerialway

This is used to tag different forms of transportation for people or goods by using aerial wires. For example these may include cable-cars, chair-lifts and drag-lifts. See the page Aerialway for more information on the usage of these tags.

Chairlift. Looped cable with a series of single chairs (typically seating two or four people, but can be more). Exposed to the open air (can have a bubble). This implies oneway=yes. Any two-way chairlifts should be tagged oneway=no.

Sustenance

Bar is a purpose-built commercial establishment that sells alcoholic drinks to be consumed on the premises. They are characterised by a noisy and vibrant atmosphere, similar to a party and usually don't sell food. See also the description of the tags amenity=pub;bar;restaurant for a distinction between these.

BBQ or Barbecue is a permanently built grill for cooking food, which is most typically used outdoors by the public. For example these may be found in city parks or at beaches. Use the tag fuel=* to specify the source of heating, such as fuel=wood;electric;charcoal. For mapping nearby table and chairs, see also the tag tourism=picnic_site. For mapping campfires and firepits, instead use the tag leisure=firepit.

Biergarten or beer garden is an open-air area where alcoholic beverages along with food is prepared and served. See also the description of the tags amenity=pub;bar;restaurant. A biergarten can commonly be found attached to a beer hall, pub, bar, or restaurant. In this case, you can use biergarten=yes additional to amenity=pub;bar;restaurant.

Cafe is generally an informal place that offers casual meals and beverages, typically, the focus is on coffee or tea. Also known as a coffeehouse/shop, bistro or sidewalk cafe. The kind of food served may be mapped with the tags cuisine=* and diet=*. See also the tags amenity=restaurant;bar;fast_food.

An entrance or exit to an underground or multi-storey parking facility. Group multiple parking entrances together with a relation using the tags type=site and site=parking. Do not mix with amenity=parking.

A structure supported by posts driven into the ground and designed to prevent movement across a boundary. It is distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction. Use fence_type=* to add details.

A (for example footway) kerb is a barrier for vehicles and wheelchair drivers. The height of the kerb is important and with this information, the usage by different groups can be determined. The height of the kerb is tagged additionally as height=*, if available. Right side is bottom, left side is top.

Access Control on Highways

A large, solid, immobile block that can be moved only with heavy machinery or great effort. Typically big solid things made of concrete for stopping larger vehicles. Sometimes natural boulders are used for the same purpose.

A road is blocked by debris with or without ground. This might be for short or long time. Often used as first step in blocking an abandoned road. The photo does not display the road after the debris because it was a slope road and the photo was taken on the top.

A Kent carriage gap is used by local authorities in the UK to prevent motorised vehicles from accessing public rights of way whilst allowing most horse drawn carriages to pass. These are now becoming common on byways in the UK

Similar to a lift gate but rotates sidewards to open. It is usually made out of metal bars (wood or other material possible) and is intended to prevent cars from access but can usually be crossed by pedestrians and cyclists.

Boundary

An administrative boundary. Subdivisions of areas/territories/jurisdictions recognised by governments or other organisations for administrative purposes. These range from large groups of nation states right down to small administrative districts and suburbs, as indicated by the 'admin_level=*' combo tag

Attributes

This table is a wiki template with a default description in English. Editable here.

Building

This is used to identify individual buildings or groups of connected buildings. See the page Buildings for further details on the usage of this tag and man_made=* for tagging of various other structures.

Key

Value

Element

Comment

Photo

Accommodation

A building arranged into individual dwellings, often on separate floors. May also have retail outlets on the ground floor. How does one map the retail elements? Use building:levels=* for the total number of floors.

A dwelling unit inhabited by a single household (a family or small group sharing facilities such as a kitchen). Houses forming half of a semi-detached pair, or one of a row of terraced houses, should share at least two nodes with joined neighbours, thereby defining the party wall between the properties.

For a shared building, as used by college/university students (not a share room for multiple occupants as implied by the term in British English). Would 'hall_of_residence' be better? Alternatively, use building=residential plus residential=university.

A single way used to define the outline of a linear row of residential dwellings, each of which normally has its own entrance, which form a terrace (row-house in North American English). Consider defining each dwelling separately using 'house'.

Commercial

A building where non-specific commercial activities take place; use office=* to describe the type of office. Consider tagging the area using landuse=commercial. Use 'retail' if the building consists primarily of shops.

A building where some industrial process takes place. Use warehouse if the purpose is known to be primarily for storage/distribution. Consider using landuse=industrial for the surrounding area and the proposed industrial=* tag to describe the industrial activity.

A building primarily used for selling goods are sold to the public; use shop=* to identify the sort of goods sold. Consider use landuse=retail for the surrounding area. How is one meant to indicate that there is also residential accommodation or office use above?

A building related to public transport. You will probably want to tag it with proper tranport related tag as well, such as public_transport=station. Note that there is a special tag for train station buildings - building=train_station.

Other Buildings

A building used as a bridge. Can also represent a gatehouse for drawbridges. See also bridge=yes for highway=*. Don't use this tag just for for marking bridges (their outlines). For such purposes use man_made=bridge.

A transformer tower is a characteristic tall building comprising a distribution transformer and constructed to connect directly to a medium voltage overhead power line. Quite often the power line has since been undergrounded but the building may still serve as a substation. If the building is still in use as a substation it should additionally be tagged as power=substation + substation=minor_distribution.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a first-aid device that automates the process of diagnosing life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia and performing defibrillation. Previously tagged as emergency=aed or medical=aed.

A fire hydrant is an active fire protection measure, and a source of water provided in most urban, suburban and rural areas with municipal water service or other water source to enable firefighters to tap into the municipal water supply to assist in extinguishing a fire.

Geological

A moraine is any ice formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock) which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by glacial ice.

A palaeontological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which remains of ancient living forms is preserved. Area under the study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms investigated using the discipline of palaeontology.

This table is a wiki template with a default description in English. Editable here.

Highway

This is used to describe roads and footpaths. For an introduction on its usage see the page titled Highways. See the page titled Restrictions for an introduction on access limitations by vehicles type, time, day, load and purpose, etc.

Key

Value

Element

Comment

Rendering

Photo

Roads

These are the principal tags for the road network. They range from the most to least important.

The least most important through roads in a country's system – i.e. minor roads of a lower classification than tertiary, but which serve a purpose other than access to properties. (The word 'unclassified' is a historical artefact of the UK road system and does not mean that the classification is unknown; you can use highway=road for that.)

For access roads to, or within an industrial estate, camp site, business park, car park etc. Can be used in conjunction with service=* to indicate the type of usage and with access=* to indicate who can use it and in what circumstances.

For roads used mainly/exclusively for pedestrians in shopping and some residential areas which may allow access by motorised vehicles only for very limited periods of the day. To create a 'square' or 'plaza' create a closed way and tag as pedestrian and also with area=yes.

Roads for mostly agricultural or forestry uses. To describe the quality of a track, see tracktype=*. Note: Although tracks are often rough with unpaved surfaces, this tag is not describing the quality of a road but its use. Consequently, if you want to tag a general use road, use one of the general highway values instead of track.

A road where the mapper is unable to ascertain the classification from the information available. This is intended as a temporary tag to mark a road until it has been properly surveyed. Once it has been surveyed, the classification should be updated to the appropriate value.

Paths

For designated footpaths; i.e., mainly/exclusively for pedestrians. This includes walking tracks and gravel paths. If bicycles are allowed as well, you can indicate this by adding a bicycle=yes tag. Should not be used for paths where the primary or intended usage is unknown. Use highway=pedestrian for pedestrianised roads in shopping or residential areas and highway=track if it is usable by agricultural or similar vehicles.

Attributes

A bicycle road is a road designated for bicycles. If residential streets get the status of bicycle roads, normally, by special signs, motor traffic is admitted with limited speed, often only for residents.

Indicates a junction (UK) or exit (US). ref=* should be set to the exit number or junction identifier. (Some roads – e.g., the A14 – also carry junction numbers, so the tag may be encountered elsewhere despite its name)

Remains of structures that were once complete, but have fallen into partial or complete disrepair. If the type of original structure is known or apparent it can be described using ruins=*, e.g. ruins=castle.

An area of land with farm buildings like farmhouse, dwellings, farmsteads, sheds, stables, barns, equipment sheds, feed bunkers, etc. plus the open space in between them and the shrubbery/trees around them.

A snow fence is a solid fence-like structure built across steep slopes to reduce risk and severity of (snow) avalanches. Usually made of steel, sloping outwards, and trussed underneath. Sometimes refered to as a snow shed.

A snow net netting fence built across steep slopes to reduce risk and severity of (snow) avalanches. They consist of a net made of steel cables, held up by posts. Sometimes refered to as an Avalanche net.

See boundary=administrative, admin_level=* varies; depending on the country a collection of arbitrary hamlets, villages and towns may form an administrative unit; sometimes members of a unit reform or join with another municipality as a result of political process. Within a municipality individual settlements are a lot less connected than those within a city, where they have grown connected over time.

Populated settlements, urban

The largest urban settlements in the territory, normally including the national, state and provincial capitals. These are defined by charter or other governmental designation in some territories and are a matter of judgement in others. Should normally have a population of at least 100,000 people and be larger than nearby towns. See place=suburb and place=neighbourhood on how to tag divisions within a city. The outskirts of urban settlements may or may not match the administratively declared boundary of the city.

See boundary=administrative, depending on the country suburbs in larger cities are often grouped into administrative units called boroughs or city districts; using the value borough avoids name confusion in countries that declare districts within their states or counties.

A named part of a bigger settlement where this part is smaller than a suburb and bigger than a neighbourhood. This does not have to be an administrative entity.The term quarter is sometimes used synonymously for neighbourhood.

Populated settlements, urban and rural

A second tier urban settlement of local importance, often with a population of 10,000 people and good range of local facilities including schools, medical facilities etc and traditionally a market. In areas of low population, towns may have significantly lower populations. See place=neighbourhood and possibly also place=suburb on how to tag divisions within a town.

A smaller distinct settlement, smaller than a town with few facilities available with people traveling to nearby towns to access these. Populations of villages vary widely in different territories but will nearly always be less than 10,000 people, often a lot less. See place=neighbourhood on how to tag divisions within a larger village.

Dacha or cottage settlement, which is located outside other inhabited locality. This value is used mainly in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union, where a lot of such unofficial settlements exist

A way following the path of underground cables, such as the local 0.4 kV network between transformer stations, distribution boxes and cable connection points, or sea cables. Not to be confused with non-power supply cables such as cables for telecommunication. May be combined with location=underground;underwater;overground.

In these cabinets, the 400-V circuits to the house connections, connection and transfer points of the regional utilities are branched. Other uses include distributions of the municipal street lighting.

A way following the path of (overground) minor power cables, supported by poles and not towers/pylons. (This isn't quite so simple, as sometimes larger towers are replaced by smaller poles made with a stronger material; a better distinction might be based on voltage).

A tag for electricity substations. These provide voltage step-up/step-down, switching, conditioning, etc. Substations may be large facilities (up to several acres) for very high voltage transmission lines or just small buildings or kiosks near the street for low voltage distribution lines. Useful combinations: voltage=*, substation=* and location=*, see the feature page for details.

For towers or pylons carrying high voltage electricity cables. Normally constructed from steel latticework but tubular or solid pylons are also commonly used. Should not be used for medium or low voltage electricity conductors carried on single wooden poles which might be tagged power=pole. See power=tower for detailed tagging of tower types.

Number of power-carrying cables represented by this way. The power line on the photo (click on it to see more details) has 6 double cables (the cable on top does not carry power) and thus may be tagged as cables=6 and wires=double.

Number of electrical circuits represented by this way. The tag may be used when the number of physical cables is unknown (often the case for underground cable connections) or when the number of circuits is different from cables=* divided by 3. The photo shows a power line that connects to a cable connection having two circuits and thus may be tagged as circuits=2.

Notes that a line or cable is contained in a self-supporting tunnel that may also be used for other purposes such as road traffic or be provided for maintenance purposes. Cables buried underground should not use this tag but be tagged as power=cable and location=underground;underwater.

Tracks

The course of a former railway which has been abandoned and the track and infrastucture removed. The course may be still recognized through embankments, cuttings, bridges, tunnel and rolling or straight ways.